Hospitality Veteran Heads Sales at New Sheraton Orlando North

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. October 14, 2008

ORLANDO, FL, February 7, 2006. Anita Blackwelder has been named director of sales and marketing at the new Sheraton Orlando North at Maitland Center. She brings to her position 20 years of hospitality experience in the booming North Orlando, Fla., market.

"Anita has a tremendous track record of success," says Peter Marino, senior vice president at Paramount Hotel Group, an owner and operator of the Sheraton property. "Her in-depth knowledge of this market, combined with her leadership skills and expertise in hospitality sales and operations, will be invaluable as we build North Orlando's premier hotel and conference facility."

Before joining the new Sheraton, Blackwelder served as general manager of Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotels, Maitland, Fla. She opened the 143-room, all-suite hotel ahead of schedule in 2000. Under her leadership, the property quickly became the North Orlando leader in revenue per available room. From 2001 - '03, Homewood Suites in Maitland ranked consistently as one of the chain's Top Ten hotels nationally for guest satisfaction. Blackwelder was named Homewood Suites' General Manager of the Year, 2002. High productivity and employee retention made her a 2004 Motivator of the Year finalist for Hilton Hotels nationwide.

Prior to Homewood Suites, Blackwelder was with Embassy Suites Orlando North, Altamonte Springs, Fla., for nine years, where she served as director of sales. She trained the sales and catering teams and oversaw sales and marketing at the 277-room meeting and conference hotel. Blackwelder's initiatives contributed to significant gains in profitability and guest satisfaction. While she was at Embassy Suites, revenue per available room increased 22% percent, groups sales jumped from 34% to 45% percent of hotel sales, and Embassy Suites became the North Orlando market leader.

Blackwelder began her career in 1985 as sales and catering manager at the Holiday Inn Orlando - Altamonte Springs. "Meeting planners have become close friends," she says of her longevity in the North Orlando market. "I work closely with planners to create exciting events with flawless execution. My role is to create 'wow!' If a planner looks fantastic, then I've done my job."

Blackwelder holds two degrees from University of Central Florida in Orlando, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Marketing as well as a Masters degree in Public Relations. A North Orlando native, she has a long history of involvement in community organizations, including local Chambers of Commerce and the Orlando Chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation. Blackwelder lives in Longwood, Fla., with her husband and three school-age children.